[iankh]

I wish I had known more when I bought my K-x and I might have gotten the body only.

I'm thinking about replacing my 18-50mm and 55-200mm kit lenses. I did get a good prime lens and have the F1.4 50mm lens.

If I were to replace the kit zooms with a better all round zoom what would folks recommend?

[Just12hvFun]

Frankly, you haven't made a wrong decision. So cheer up

The kit lenses aren't bad lenses and if you have taken into consideration cost effectiveness; they really are high up in the hierarchy

If you have the intention to upgrade to better zooms, then depending on whether you can accept SDM, you may:

1) Purchase the DA*s: 16-50mm and 50-135mm are marvellous

2) Purchase the DAs: 16-45 and 55-300mm performs beyond expectations

otherwise,

3) Try the Sigma 17-70mm and Sigma 70-200mm combination. You won't be disappointed too

[Ahab]

I believe you haven't given the kits a reasonable chance. If you look around here you will find some awsome images taken with them.

[lurchlarson]

I wish I had known more when I bought my K-x and I might have gotten the body only.

I'm thinking about replacing my 18-50mm and 55-200mm kit lenses. I did get a good prime lens and have the F1.4 50mm lens.

If I were to replace the kit zooms with a better all round zoom what would folks recommend?

Don't feel bad. As far as I know the KX only comes bundled with kit lenses. I'm saving up for the 16-50 and the 50-135 myself.

[MrCynical]

As a much cheaper (and more reliable) alternative to the DA*16-50 you could consider the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8: these are well regarded.

[Eagle_Friends]

both the 18-55 and 50-200 are very capable lens, so unless you have a lot of cash to spare, i would just keep them; especially the the 50-200, that is one under-dog lens.

Remember, its often not about the photographic gear, it is about the photographer.

[iankh]

Are there any opinions regarding the Tamron 18-250?

[bikecoboss]

As a much cheaper (and more reliable) alternative to the DA*16-50 you could consider the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8: these are well regarded.

That was my choice when replacing the kit 18-55. Not because there was anything wrong with the quality of the lens, it was just too slow for my style of shooting. I spend a lot of time in the dark Coastal Range forests, and wanted to be able to take shots like this, hand-held:

If you're not taking pictures in dark places, the kit lens is great - and small, and light, and takes cheaper filters.

If you're looking for a all-in-one 'travel' lens, the Tamron 18-250 seems to fit the bill, though I haven't tried it:
PentaxForums.com Third-Party Lens Review Database - Tamron AF 18-250mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II LD

[EsBee]

While the 18-55 (especially AL II) is a good lens and can in good light perform really well, the DA16-45 easily outperforms it in all aspects, in particular sharpness and colors.

As for the 50-200, it is not easy recommend an upgrade as a good copy of this lens can perform as well as the 55-300 which, while being an excellent budget telephoto zoom lens, only offers the extended range.

[hcc]

If I were to replace the kit zooms with a better all round zoom what would folks recommend?

For an all-around zoom lens, you cannot get wrong with the DA18-250mm. It is one of the best ultra-zoom lenses within its range. The DA18-250mm is highly regarded including by professional photographers:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-dslr-discussion/93367-k-7-steve-kr...gua-6962m.html
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/86984-pentax-d...50mm-lens.html

The DA18-250mm is a rebadged Tamron: there is basically no difference between the Tamron 18-250mm and DA18-250mm. The DA18-250mm was discontinued late last year and is not too easy to find in the 2nd hand market, while the Tamron is possibly easier to find.

There has been a very recent discussion on a future Pentax 18-250mm but Pentax has never announced anything (https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-news-rumors/99032-replacement-pent...18-250-mm.html).

[kxuser]

I used the 18-55mm lens for about 5 months, but decided recently to upgrade. I bought the Sigma 17-70mm lens, it just arrived on thursday, but I couldn't be happier. I wrote about it here, and have some samples on the site. There is also a good flickr group for this lens here.

I really like that it goes up to the 70mm range, and the focal length for up close macro shots is great. Its about 9 inches (from the k-x sensor), so zoomed in at 70mm you can get the lens right up to your subject. I am a little afraid that I am actually going to bump the subject with the lens when I am zoomed in.

The build quality is great. The focus is faster and quieter than the kit lens. The images I have produced are very sharp and colorful. I haven't taken it off since I purchase it (even though its only been 3 days). I was instantly a fan and recommend this lens.

[HeavyD]

Stay with your kit lens for a while. I had the Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 OS HSM lens and it was not much better than the DA 18-55mm WR lens that came with my K7. The only advantage the Sigma had was the OS was a little better than the in camera SR and it focused silently.

[wedge]

Are there any opinions regarding the Tamron 18-250?

I got one a few weeks back and have been very happy with it. However, I'm an extreme noob to this field, so I'm no authority on such things. I mainly bought it because I wanted to avoid hauling around and swapping between multiple lenses on our Summer vacation (my almost 4-year-old's first trip to Disney). In fact, here's a pic of him in a pretend twister with that very lens:

[hangu]

The K-x is not available without the kit lens I believe.

The 55-200 and 18-55 are both excellent lenses. I've gotten great results from my Canon kit lens, which is by all accounts inferior to the Pentax kit lens. They're not fast lenses but more than passable for daytime use.

The 16-50 is quite pricey but the best of the bunch. The 14-45 is very good as well. I've also heard great things about the Tamron 17-50 f2.8.

I don't think you've given the kit lenses enough of a chance.

[Marc Sabatella]

An 18-250 is more convenient than the pair of kit lenses, but it's not optically any better. No lens with significantly greater zoom range is going to be "better" than the kit lenses.

As others have said, you might be giving up on the kit lenses too soon. Can you post pictures you aren't happy with? 9 times out of 10, it turns out not to be the lens that is to blame...